Between 42 and 46 clerics have issued a fatwa against a local singer in Assam. The singer, Nahid Afrin, has been told not to perform in public.
Afrin was the first runner-up in the 2015 season of Indian Idol Junior. She has also done playback for Sonakshi Sinha in the 2016 film “Akira”.
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Some reports claim that the fatwa was issued because the venue of her upcoming show was close to a mosque. Others say that it was issued because Afrin sings songs against Islamic terror groups.
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The message of the fatwa was spread through leaflets in Hojai and Nagaon districts in central Assam. The fatwa reads that Afrin’s upcoming performance at Udali Sonai Bibi College in Lanka is “against the Sharia”.
In a typical radical-sounding message, the fatwa reportedly says:
“If anti-Sharia acts like musical nights are held on grounds surrounded by masjids, idgahs, madrassas and graveyards, our future generations will attract the wrath of Allah.”
Afrin is 16 years old and is a Standard X student.
My singing is gift of God I believe it must be properly utilised,not doing so is ignoring God: Singer Nahid Afreen on fatwa against her pic.twitter.com/WVPsPIhb3z
Advertisement— ANI (@ANI_news) March 15, 2017
Was shocked & broken from inside at first, but many Muslim singers gave me inspiration to not quit music, will never do so: Nahid Afreen pic.twitter.com/6RAmbs38dp
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 15, 2017
The police says that they are exploring the possibility of the fatwa being issued because Afrin sings against terrorism.
Following Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s support to Afrin, the organizers decided not to cancel the event. The police have said that they’ll provide security cover to Afrin and her family.
We strongly condemn putting restrictions on performance by young talented singer Nahid Afrin by some organisations.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 14, 2017
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Afrin has also rendered songs written and composed by the Vaishnavite saint from Assam Srimanta Sankardeva. Just a few days ago, Suhana Syed, a 22-year-old Muslim singer from Karnataka, was trolled on social media for singing a Hindu devotional song in a reality show.
Twitterati expressed their outrage over the fatwa issued against Afrin:
Nahid Afreen is a brave girl. All of us should raise our voice in her support! Down with Fatwa-espousing irrelevant Radicals.
— shazia ilmi (@shaziailmi) March 15, 2017
Fatwas are unconstitutional. Assam Govt must arrest Clerics who issue fatwa against Nahid Afrin & set example,India is not an Islamic Nation
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) March 15, 2017
Condemning terrorism leads to issue of Fatwa against Nahid Afrin. Why is everyone quiet now? Where are the ‘intellectuals’? @NahidAfrin1
— Diksha Verma (@DikshaaVerma) March 15, 2017
#NahidAfrin Silence on Nahid Afrin issue will also reveal much! Don’t just see what people say; but also who says and who remains silent!
— Ran Vijay Singh (@rannu61) March 15, 2017
The Muslim population of this country in large nos should stand by Nahid Afrin & denounce these frauds. https://t.co/mn0IoXLF1D
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) March 15, 2017
